Best Air Purifiers For The Office [Top 10 HEPA Filters]

You spend a lot of time at work. Are you spending all those hours breathing dirty air?

In most offices, the air quality could be a lot better. Unless your office has an air purifier, you’re probably breathing in some allergens and other airborne contaminants that could affect your health.

Some air purifiers are just glorified fans while others will actually help to purify the air. You want one that actually takes in the contaminants and sends out clean, healthy air.

Not all air purifiers are created equal! While adding an air purifier to the office can improve your quality of life by reducing the amount of dirty air you’re taking in, it’s important to only invest one that is actually going to do the job well.

This is especially true for allergy sufferers but absolutely everyone does better when they are breathing in cleaner air.

Through my personal research and testing, I’ve made a list of the 10 best air purifiers for the office. I considered type, size, price, and performance in creating this list. Read on to find the ideal air purifier for your office.

Does your office have an odor problem? Whether there are a number of employees who come back from their smoke breaks reeking of cigarette smoke or whether the office kitchen is known for emitting some strong smells, odor in the office can be a really annoying problem.

Not every air purifier will help to remove odors but some of them will do a great job of sucking up smells while also removing other airborne contaminants like allergens and dust. The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier is a Consumers Digest Best Buy and you’ll see it consistently ranked high on “best of” lists.

It might be expensive, but as one Amazon reviewer wrote, it’s “absolutely worth the awesome price tag.”

This air purifier stands out for a number of reasons. It uses HEPA filtration but it goes even beyond that. Its patented HyperHEPA® filtration is up to 100X more effective than standard HEPA and it can filter ultrafine particles up to .003 microns.

The filter lasts a long time and an LED display lets you know where you are within the four stages of the filter life-cycle. In addition, the V5 cell provides advanced odor control. For allergy sufferers, it’s going to be nearly impossible to beat this purifier.

For a high-performance air purifier, this is also one of the quietest options on the market. It’s also extremely energy-efficient. In fact, it uses no more power than a conventional light bulb!

Pros

high-performance particle filtering

stops odor as well as allergens and other contaminants

quiet

simple operation

energy efficient

Cons

expensive

replacement filters are pricey

the odor-blocking filter emits a slight chemical odor

Verdict: The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier is expensive but it is worth the cost because of its superior ability to block even the finest of particles and its ability to absorb odors.

This air purifier can handle large spaces up to 1,100 square feet. It’s a smart tool as it has some sensors that will automatically detect and adjust to changing air quality.

This not only makes it easier for you but it also extends the life of the filter and it conserves energy. Speaking of the filter, the Alen purifier uses HEPA-filter technology to block the overwhelming majority of particles like those from everyday allergens and smoke. It will also do a decent job of blocking odors.

The front panel comes in a number of colors. You could choose your favorite color or you could always choose a fun pop of color, perhaps a color that fits in with your company’s branding.

You can purchase this air purifier with some specialization, depending on your needs. The Everyday Allergens options will be the best fit for most offices.

This isn’t whisper-quiet, especially when needing to operate at a high level.

That said, a really great feature of this purifier is that it emits “pink noise” to cover up the sound of operation.

This is soothing background noise. It’s ideal for not disrupting sleep but it’s just as effective as blocking out distracting sounds in the office.

Pros

Energy Star Certified

front panel color choice

sensors automatically detect and adjust

Lifetime Limited Warranty (for USA and Mexico)

HEPA filter captures most particles

Cons

a bit expensive

color is only on front panel, not whole unit

Verdict: The Alen BreatheSmart Customizable Air Purifier is one of the very best for trapping particles. You get a ton of value just from the smart sensor that automatically adjusts to changing air conditions.

In an office space, you’ll sometimes want to move your air purifier around from one area to another. With most air purifiers designed for large spaces, that can be a challenge. Austin Air took care of that problem by putting their Healthmate purifier on wheels.

This makes it extremely convenient. Another thing that makes this air purifier stand out is the 360-degree intake.

On most air purifiers, the air intake is limited to just the front or the sides. On the Healthmate, it sucks in the air on all sides. This ultimately means that it cleans more air more rapidly.

There are four stages of filtering and cleansing. There is a pre-filter that removes large particles like dust and hair. Next, there is a second pre-filter that removes medium particles like molds, spores, and pollen.

The third level is 15 lbs. of Activated Carbon and Zeolite to remove chemicals, gases, and odors. Finally, there is a True Medical Grade HEPA filter to remove all those small particles down to 0.3 microns in size.

Pros

wheels to easily move it around room

great for huge spaces (up to 1500 sq.ft.)

4-stage filtering removes the maximum amount of particles for cleaner air and reduced odors

360-degree intake system

cleans air faster than many other air purifiers

5-year warranty

Cons

expensive

a bit loud

not Energy Star certified

Verdict: For large offices, the Austin Air B400B1 Standard Unit Healthmate Air Purifier is a good option that comes with the bonus of being on wheels for easy transport from place to place.

For a really nice HEPA-filter air purifier, you can usually expect a pretty high price tag. This highly rated purifier from industry leader Honeywell is an exception that is moderately priced but high on quality.

The only negative is that it only works for a 465-sq-ft room, as compared to the 1,100 square feet the Alen can cleanse. For a smaller office, though, this Honeywell purifier should do a great job.

For a 465-sq-ft room, you can expect the air to be filtered and circulated a full five times an hour.

You have your choice of four different air cleaning levels: Germ, General Clean, Allergen, and Turbo. For each level, you can set it to automatically shut off after 2, 4, or 8 hours.

When air comes into the purifier, it first encounters the activated carbon pre-filter that absorbs VOCs/Gases/Odors and traps larger particles. Next, it goes to the HEPA filter that continuously captures up to 99.97% of the particles that pass through, as small as 0.3 microns.

For the best value, you’ll want to buy the bundle that comes with a number of replacement filters: HPA300 Air Purifier, Package each of HRF-R3 HEPA Filters, and HRF-APP1 Pre-Filters.

Does an air purifier really need to be WiFi-enabled? Maybe not, though it is on trend for just about everything these days. The WiFi feature on this Philips purifier basically means that it connects to an app that can show you interesting data in real time.

You can see some of this data right on the dashboard of the purifier itself, including a color ring that shows current air quality and a numerical Indoor Allergen Index.

The app goes an extra step in showing the real-time indoor and outdoor allergen levels. It also lets you do historical tracking and even provides advice and tools to reduce your allergen exposure. You can use the app as a remote control to adjust the settings of the filter. You can even do this if you aren’t in the office.

The app isn’t the only “high tech” feature, though. It also uses AeraSense technology that can detect even the slightest change in indoor air quality. When a change to air quality is sensed, it auto-adjusts the fan speed to maintain cleaner air.

There are three stages of filtration. The pre-filter and True HEPA filter remove particles while the Active Carbon filter reduces gases and odors. It has 3 auto modes and 5 manual modes, giving you a lot of flexibility. There is a “sleep” mode that is extra-quiet and a “turbo” mode that is extra-powerful.

For a large office, this might be too small. It is designed to be ideal for a 277-sq.ft. space. You might consider getting a few and placing them at different locations if you have a really big office. Otherwise, you’ll want to invest in one that can handle a larger square footage.

In the office, there is more to worry about than allergens and odors. Germs are another thing you want to minimize your exposure to that are all over most offices.

This tower-design air purifier also offers UV-C sanitizing to kill airborne bacteria, viruses, and other germs. In addition to the germ-killing UV-C, there is a True HEPA filter to capture dust and allergens, and an activated carbon filter to neutralize odors.

Pros

UV-C kills airborne germs

space-saving tower design

Certified Energy Efficient

excellent social proof

moderately priced

Cons

only works for smaller office spaces

quite loud at highest fan speed

UV blue light is very bright

Verdict: Although it’s only a good choice for small offices, the GermGuardian AC4825 3-in-1 Air Purifier stands out for killing germs in addition to cleaning the air.

This air purifier looks almost like a computer speaker so it will blend right in on any office floor or desktop. It is small in size with a narrow profile but it can clean the air from a 325 Sq Ft. area.

It includes both a True HEPA filter and four activated carbon filters. The carbon filters not only work to neutralize odors but they also extend the life of the HEPA filter by filter dust, dander, pollen, and other allergens.

The VEVA 8000 is ultra quiet and includes three fan speeds. The Turbo speed is obviously the loudest but it’s still really quiet, especially compared to some other air purifiers.

For this size of air filter, it’s a bit more expensive than some other options but it is worth the extra cost because of how well it performs.

It does have a 2-year registered warranty and lifetime support which provides peace of mind and adds to the value. Another valuable thing about this purifier is that the replacement HEPA filter is much more affordable than many other air purifiers. You will need to replace this every 6-8 months.

Pros

small size, suitable for desktop

moderately priced

great warranty

affordable replacement filters

quiet

Cons

small air intake area

Verdict: The VEVA 8000 Elite Pro Series Air Purifier features a narrow profile that looks great in an office and also has a unique filtering system and affordable replacement filters.

If your employer isn’t willing to invest in a large capacity air purifier for the office, what can you do? You can buy a personal-sized air purifier for your desktop or cubicle. This little air purifier from hOmeLabs is actually pretty cute and looks nice sitting on a desk.

Just like with a larger air purifier that you set on the floor, you’ll get the most out of it if you don’t put it too close to the wall or right up against the side or back of your desk. You need it to have a bit of clearance on all sides for the best results.

It has a 360-degree air intake so all of the sides should ideally be free and not blocked off. This little air purifier can clean air in a space of up to 50 Sq Ft so those who work nearby will also see some benefit.

You get 4 stages of filtering with this purifier, ending with a HEPA filter that will remove nearly all particles in the air.

Activated carbon traps odors. An extra-fresh ion booster releases millions of negative ions into the air to give an added touch of freshness.

These negative ions attach themselves to dust and other particles in the air which are then drawn back into the air purifier. The only negative to this is that ionizers always release a small amount of ozone. It’s not a big enough amount to be harmful to you but it could potentially be bad for any desktop plants you might have.

This air purifier is so small and compact that it would be perfectly reasonable to take it with you when you travel. When traveling for work, you never know what kind of air quality you’ll encounter in your hotel room or remote workspace. When you bring this along, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that you’ll breathe clean and fresh air wherever you are.

Pros

compact, personal size

attractive design

2-year warranty

4-stage filtering to remove odor, dust, and allergens

simple operation

extremely affordable

Cons

only works for very small spaces

releases a small amount of ozone

power button light is quite bright

Verdict: If you want an affordable air purifier just for your personal desk or cubicle area, the hOmeLabs 3 in 1 Ionic Air Purifier with HEPA Filter is an attractive and high performing model to consider. It is an ionizer which can be seen as both a positive and a negative.

If you’re looking for a personal-sized desktop air purifier that doesn’t emit any ozone, check out this one from KOIOS. It features a 3-stage filtration process.

A pre-filter catches larger particles, the True HEPA filter captures all the tiny particles, and activated carbon captures and neutralizes odors. This air purifier has a unique cylindrical design that offers 360-degrees of air intake. There are two fan speeds that you can waffle between using one simple button.

Both fan speeds are pretty quiet so it’s not going to be difficult to concentrate and get work done when running the purifier.

This small desktop purifier is extremely portable so it’s an easy thing to pack for work trips.

It’s really affordable but it definitely provides some peace of mind to know it comes with a 12-month warranty and great customer service.

Pros

simple operation

very affordable

attractive design

compact, portable size

good warranty

adequate filtration for small spaces

Cons

blue LED light can be annoying

only works for small spaces

Verdict: While it won’t work for anything other than a small space, the KOIOS Desktop Air Filtration system is ideal for a desktop or cubicle space. It will noticeably freshen your personal space and it’s incredibly quiet.

For small to medium spaces (up to 322 sq. ft), the Levoit LV-PUR131 should be adequate. Unfortunately, it has a pretty small air intake area.

That said, it does offer adequate filtering through its 3-stage filtration process. There is a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter.

This should capture the majority of particles and also capture and neutralize odor. Because it’s not an ionizer, this air purifier is 100% Ozone free.

A big positive for this air purifier is the auto mode.

It detects the surrounding air quality and then automatically adjusts the fan speed to purify your air faster, as needed. There is also a sleep mode, which is the quietest setting.

It might be useful to use sleep mode when on a conference call. For peace of mind, Levoit offers a 2-year warranty and lifetime support.

Pros

2-year warranty and lifetime support

100% Ozone free

smart auto mode adjusts based on current air conditions

easy to use

replacement filters are reasonably priced

Cons

air intake area is small

won’t be ideal for really large offices

Verdict: With a smart auto mode and three stages of filtering, the Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter is a good choice for small to medium offices.

Air Purifier Buyer’s Guide

Where Should I place an air purifier?

When deciding where to put your office air purifier, you should first be aware of where you shouldn’t put it. Never place your air purifier behind furniture or below shelving.

You want at least a few feet of clearance on the top, front, and all sides. This allows the maximum amount of “dirty” air to enter the air purifier’s intake and also ensures the “clean” air will have the farthest possible reach.

Never put an air purifier in the corner. You should also try not to place it right up against the wall. In many offices, finding the ideal location for an air purifier is a challenge. You’ll have to balance the air flow needs of the purifier with the layout and space limitations of the office.

You’ll want to place your air purifier in the area where you spend the most time. If there is a part of the office that has a lot of contamination or exposure to pollutants, you should put the air purifier there.

If you have some coworkers who take regular smoke breaks, for example, you might want to place the air purifier in between their work areas and yours in order to eliminate how much of that lingering smoke odor and contamination that you’re exposed to.

Can they help remove dust?

Air purifiers with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including dust.

Even air purifiers that don’t have HEPA filters should be able to capture most dust particles since dust is considered a medium or large sized particle.

While HEPA filter air purifiers will help remove dust from the air, they won’t do anything about the dust on your surfaces so an air purifier isn’t going to eliminate the need for cleaning activities like dusting.

Which one is best for allergies?

Like with dust, HEPA-filter air purifiers are the best bet for allergy sufferers. These filters help capture allergens like airborne dust mite particles, pollen, and smoke particles.

Most allergen particles are extremely small which is why HEPA-filter purifiers tend to work best. The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier has an advanced kind of HEPA filter that captures even more particles than a standard HEPA filter, so it’s an ideal option for allergy sufferers.

Will an air purifier help remove odors?

Yes, many air purifiers can do at least an adequate job of removing or reducing odors.

Placing the air purifier close to the source of the odor will help remove as much of the odor as possible. For removing odor, air purifiers with carbon filters tend to perform to the highest degree of satisfaction.

Carbon is known for trapping odor.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier has an excellent V5 carbon cell filter that does an incredible job of absorbing odors and freshening up the air.

The Austin Air B400B1 Standard Unit Healthmate Air Purifier is another great one for removing odors because it contains 15 pounds of activated carbon and zeolite, another mineral known for being great at absorbing smells.

Would it affect my desk plants?

No, air purifiers won’t affect or harm your desk plants. In fact, indoor plants and air purifiers can work together to lead to the very best air. You can supplement your plants with an air purifier or supplement your air purifier with plants but either way, you’ll have a powerhouse team of air cleaners. Some products sold as air purifiers actually release a small amount of ozone.

This is potentially harmful for both you and your desk plants. But as long as you avoid an ozone generator, both you and your plants should be okay.

Have you tried any of these air purifiers at the office? Did you notice a difference? Let us know in the comments! Considering sharing this list with your coworkers or employers so that you can start breathing cleaner air at work! What is your biggest air quality complaint at the office?

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Comments

I work in a large open plan office where staff are constantly contracting cold and flu symptoms so the above-listed air-purifiers are a great source of information. We will definitely look into one of these options.